Button, officer, mess dress, 20th Lancers, 1922-1947

Medium-sized, bi-metal button by Jennens and Company, London, with crossed lances with a King's Crown at the intersection, above the regimental number in Roman numerals, 'XX', with a scroll below bearing the unit title, 'Lancers'.

The 20th Lancers was formed in 1922 from the amalgamation of the 14th Murray's Jat Lancers and the 15th Lancers (Cureton's Multanis). This was part of a wider reform of the Indian Army involving the reduction of the number of cavalry regiments. Formed at Sialkot the regiment comprised of four squadrons and was part of the 7th Cavalry Group. Further reform in 1937 resulted in the deactivation of the regiment and its conversion into a training unit within the 3rd Indian Cavalry Group. Mechanisation followed and the unit retained its training role as part of the Indian Armoured Corps during World War Two (1939-1945).

From the Field Marshal Sir John Chapple Indian Army Collection.